Denver, N.C. (2 May 2014) – Thanks to support from Action Express Racing’s many fans, the IMSA United SportsCar Championship team won the Microsoft Visual Studio Team to Win Award by a 20% margin for its performance in the Tequila Patron Sports Car Showcase at Long Beach.

Action Express Racing was nominated for its Long Beach race in which drivers Christian Fittipaldi and Joao Barbosa delivered a strong run in the No. 5 Corvette Daytona Prototype, running in the top-three throughout the 100-minute race. It was the team performance from both sides of the pit wall that contributed to the Rolex 24-winning squad’s Long Beach success. With 45 minutes remaining in the race, Fittipaldi brought the No. 5 Corvette DP to pit road behind the race leading No. 01 car for fuel, tires and a driver change. (Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKs6hzqLwiA).

An exceptional pit stop by the Action Express Racing crew members saw the No. 5 Corvette DP launch ahead of the No. 01 with Barbosa returning to the track as the race leader. Barbosa fought hard to remain out front but keeping the long-term goal of championship points in mind, took a conservative approach around the concrete wall-lined circuit and ultimately took third and a healthy haul of points at the checkered flag which saw the team maintain its championship lead.

Though up against some tough competition in the Microsoft Visual Studio Team to Win Award competition, Action Express Racing led the way with 59% of the votes.

The team was presented with the Team to Win Award on Friday at the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and received $1,500 in winnings.

“Thanks to our fans who supported us when we asked them to vote,” said Director of Team Operations Elton Sawyer. “They really turned out for us.”

Action Express Racing has finished on the podium in each race so far this year and will once again look to stand on the podium in Sunday’s Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix.